3, it's the perfect number

The girls are singing classic School House Rock songs for their music program this year. We've all been humming the tunes and thought this song was most appropriate for this weekend's fantastic event. . . Joel + Jenny + Klaus!

What Comes Around . . .

Slade and I grew up in a large families. People were around all. the. time. It was just a part of life. By default, I think it also meant some major coordination and organization of and by the parental figures. But I never knew just how much that until this last week.

Here is my assessment of doubling the kids in our home:

1. It is loud. My mom never liked listening to the radio when driving. She claimed it "discouraged talking" and I never bought her excuse. Now I find myself turning off my beloved public radio just to listen to nothing when driving to and from work. The sound of silence.

2. Showers. Who needs a schedule? We do!! Yep, I am now doing the thing I SWORE I would never do.

3. Shopping. We really hate being such consumers but it takes a lot of food (and shelf space) to feed that many kids. I used to buy extra groceries just to have on hand and to have meal options for our culinary whims. Not anymore. If we aren't eating it this week, it isn't making it into the cart.

4. I am a flake. Please forgive me if I miss something, don't call you back or just don't show up. It is not my intention. I just can't remember it all. I try to console myself that my parents had time to acclimate to 6 kids. (But I had my flakey moments before this so I think it is me.)

5. A lot of things are truly an AGE issue. It is nice to see other kids acting similarly to ours. It IS developmental, not necessarily obstinacy towards me.

6. Bedtime is sacred. "Slade time" (Slade's way of saying "your day is over, so I can close out mine") is essential.

7. I look forward to my time with Slade. And I don't take it for granted!

8. Why fight the obvious flow of things? Sure they can do homework as soon as they get home from school and then go stir crazy after dinner. OR they can play, rumpus about, and NOT do homework until after dinner and then things naturally quiet down.

9. Gratitude goes a LONG way. It is very nice to hear compliments and pleasantries so frequently. Twice the kids, twice the nice things being spoken.

10. Supportive extended family makes an amazing difference in our lives.

So with our "week anniversary" approaching tomorrow, we have no regrets. And in fact, are VERY thankful for the blessing to be a part of their lives. It is fun thinking about them throughout the day, wondering how their days are progressing, and looking forward to being with everyone again.

Relay 2010

Just a few images from yesterday's fun day at Relay for Life:

Sawyer took care of the game/fundraiser while drowning himself on orange crush soda and zombie stories.

We all took our turns dunking Avy. I don't know who had more fun or those doing the dunking!

Avy has been "training" for this portion of Relay. She definitely held her own in the watermelon eating contest.

Kennah and her dad were caught clucking through the chicken dance song. We didn't get to hang with them very much as Kennah participated in a soccer tournament this weekend and the majority of her games were on Saturday. They made their appearance, but Slade wisely took her home to sleep in her own bed.


Giovanni and Dominic quickly got into the Relay fun.

Jordan enjoys decorating the . . . luminaria bags?

Avy proudly poses next to her luminaria for Glenn. Avy sang 3 karaoke songs that night and was still going strong when Jenni, Sawyer and I fell asleep in the tent at 2:30. (It was just like sharing a room again with Jenni! Although we were too tired to have our "Annie" singing contest like we did back in the day.)

As always, Relay is a great time that I look forward to every year!

Baby

I wish she was mine, but I'll settle for being this little girl's "favorite aunt". (After all, I live with Slade and we know how things, all things, somehow turn into a competition.)

Congratulations Alisha and Steven C!

28 May 2010

9 pounds 3 ounces

21.5 inches

The Jelly Bean Taste Test

I didn't watch a lot of TV growing up as a kid. But there are some ads, that to this day, still live in a corner of my mind. I can sing the Toys 'R Us song (Christmas specials made the "OK to watch list" so I am sure I was extra impressionable and vulnerable to any ads.) The Kool-Aide guy/pitcher/monster busting into happy events. The poor little rabbit who insisted on hanging around selfish little kids, unwilling to share. And the various cola taste tests with blindfolds and table set up outside grocery stores. (Were these staged? I'll never know.) Looking back I wonder what was going on at the time to inspire tastes testing as the marketing of choice.

On Easter, Slade and I were lamenting how jelly beans have changed over the years. In the good 'ole days, there was one kind (Brachs'). Now you have Jelly Bellies, Lifesaver, generic versions, spicy versions, etc. Blah. Just give us the plain ones.

After having the discussion, I had jelly beans on my mind. (I tend to fixate in life.) So I stopped in the candy aisle at Fred Meyer to pick up a bag. To my suprise there were no Brachs'. There was generic, Jelly Belly and generic gourmet. I looked for Easter left overs with no luck. So I headed to Haagens (at this point I was on determined and mission bound.) They had a bag of Brachs'. And they had the bulk no-name-generics.

And then I became curious if the taste was really all that different. Were Slade and I correct in our assumptions that Brachs' brand was better? This was a question I needed to prove. Thus the Jelly Bean Taste Test was created. The kids and their friends were more than accommodating in assisting. They didn't mind being "lab rats." Sawyer refrained, as he doesn't have an affinity for any brand of beans.

There were 3 bean options: A, B, & C, divided by color and brand.

Each person was given a survey.

And a glass of water to rinse their mouths between brands.

Then they were given brand A's red. Then B's red. Then C's red. And so on with each color. Kamille was sick by yellow, wisely stopped, and became the distributor.

The results:

Kameron and Kennah preferred A & C over B. Avy preferred all A. Slade preferred B with the exception of black. A and C were actually the same from-the-bin-brand.

Isn't "science" fun?!

The Perfect Birthday

Today Kennah is 9 years old! She has had a flawless weekend of partying, friends and FAMILY! It was an absolute delight to have so many of our family members celebrate. We enjoyed having those we love so much share a few hours with our "little" girl.

All on her own, Avy made this wonderful sign to round out (and only) decorations for the evening. In the hurry to get everything done yesterday, I neglected the work that she did. What a great little sister!

Grami made a delicious and beautiful cake. "Vanilla with vanilla," the birthday girl's request.

And the best part--no tempting leftovers! It was devoured by this group. MMMMM...

Music was in the air . . .

. . . and will be in the next few years, as Kennah puts her new guitar to use!

Let's hear it for the beauty of September and the IDEAL weather in Oregon. The kids played outside. Dominic's expression could tell a million stories.

Reevkah sampled Sam's latest creation and hobby--bottling his own sodas.

Family Dance

This week the kids' schools held a Family Valentine Dance. It even had a live (junior high) band! Pretty impressive.

It was fun to watch the kids interact with their friends. Avy was all about the foofy dress and looking her best. She also won her very own Entertainment Coupon Book as a raffle prize. We already have one, but that didn't damper her enthusiasm.

Kennah has lots of friends there and they had their own little system of entertainment down. They still danced, but it wasn't all about the dancing.

Sawyer tried to be "cool" and indifferent about it, but ultimately, he enjoyed it. If you ask him though, he won't admit it.

Derby Time

Last Thursday Sawyer participated in the 2008 Newell Creek Ward Troop 390 Pinewood Derby with Grandpa at his side! Both "boys" worked hard building the perfect car.



The boys raced, the siblings crowded the rope and everyone enjoyed the popcorn treat. All was great.

But the most fun for Grami and me was watching the "Grandpa Faction." There were two grandpas who inconspitiously stood on the sidelines quietly watching and keeping mental notes of how their cars were racing and sizing up the competition. A tie was called between the two. (However, if you ask Grandpa, Sawyer's car won by a greater margin.)


But 2nd place, tied or not, isn't something to shake a stick at. Good work guys!

Here we go SHAKS!

Howdy folks!

Life has been flying by and it has been great! The only hang-up? I haven't scrapbooked pictures or journaled things about the kids in, well, at least 2 years! It's a darn shame--an actual crime!

So, this will be my attempt to keep those small, but NOT insignificant, details alive in our memories.

Come along, if you choose.